All posts by Stephen Sanchez

Uncategorized

The Return of Smallville… Via Comic Book!

Leave a comment

Smallville may be over, but DC Comics is giving the loyal fans of the loosely based Superman show a little somethin’ somethin’ in the form of a Smallville comic book! According to IGN, the comic will be released in small parts throughout April digitally and then in a full comic book in May. And for those of you who initially worried like I did that it would take place in between all of the Smallville episodes, have no fear. The comic will take place after the show ended and after Clark finally donned the Super suit!

“Six months after Clark Kent donned the cape and took to the skies to save Earth from Apokolips… enter Season 11!” explains Miller. “New allies abound! New enemies afoot! And old friends return where they’re least expected! Pere and colorist Chris Beckett have done a fantastic job of capturing the look of the show and the players, and Gary and Cat are knocking it out of the park on covers. I couldn’t be more excited to help give seasoned viewers and new readers an all-access pass to Clark’s first year in the cape.” 

The announcement confirmed that alongside Clark will be show regulars Oliver Queen, Chloe Sullivan, Lois Lane, and even Lex Luthor. 

I guess if I have to see Michael Rosenbaum Lex Luthor in comic book form then that will suffice. But really, I can’t wait to see what they do with new villains from the Superman world and possibly even bringing back old ones. I for sure was not overly impressed with the fight against Doomsday because it was like watching a Mike Tyson fight on pay per view. But in comics as with animation, they can pretty much do whatever they want.

I’ll be very interested to see how everything has played out since the show has ended. How is Lex after his memory of knowing Clark was pretty much erased? What about the other twenty people who know Clark’s secret identity and didn’t have a memory wipe? I’m ready and waiting for this comic to come out in the next couple of months because Smallville is like Star Wars to me; I don’t want it to end even though it’s not quite what it used to be. Though this comic does have some potential to be pretty damned good. It will almost be like an Elseworlds comic or Superman: Earth One. What about the rest of the Smallville faithful? Good news or should Smallville just die a natural death? Let it be known in the comment section below!

MOVIES

Grizzly Review: Star Wars – The Phantom Menace 3D

Leave a comment

So I was very excited to see Star Wars: Episode 1 in the theater for it’s re-release in 3D. Not because of the 3D, because I think 3D is the worst fad since parachute pants, but I wanted to see it because….well it’s Star Wars and I’m a huge Star Wars geek. And even though I knew what I was in store for with the terrible Jar Jar Binks jokes and horrible performance by Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker, I was paying that admission price to at least watch the pod race scene and the Darth Maul v.s. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.

Phantom Menace 3d

Aside from mediocre acting from everyone except Liam Neeson and sometimes Ewan McGregor, the movie suffers from the same problems that it did almost 13 years back. The pacing was just God awful. You get a little bit of action and then some terribly long wandering around Tatooine and then an albeit cool yet ultimately too long pod racing sequence. After the pod race and short Qui-Gon/Maul skirmish we are treated to yet another extended lull in the story to deal with politics before the last twenty minutes of action finale. The political aspect is necessary to set Palpatine up as Supreme Chancellor, but one might wonder why Lucas didn’t just start the saga with Palpatine already as Supreme Chancellor. And while the political scenes are intriguing and moderately well done to a first time viewer, those who have seen the movie numerous times aren’t very enamored by them. I kept fighting the urge to go take a pee break during the senate scene because I didn’t want to miss the Jedi Council scenes with non-puppet Yoda.

YOU CREEP EVERYONE OUT, PUPPET YODA!

I’m kind of interested to see how the Phantom Menace re-release does in the box office after it’s historic $933 million dollar worldwide gross back in 1999. I’m also wondering just how people nowadays who haven’t seen it would react to the mediocre acting and Jar Jar hijinx, because I think we can all agree that there are blockbuster hits out there with far worst acting and way stupider shit that Jar Jar Binks plaguing our movie screens. (Twilight anyone?) After watching the movie in theatres again I recall feeling a little bit bored with the segments in between the action sequences, but I overall was glad that I went because of the nostalgic feel I get and watching the epic lightsaber fight at the end. And I also now have a sweet pair of Darth Maul 3D glasses to wear anytime I want. I give the re-release a 2 out of 5 grizzlies. Definitely one point off for the 3D fail aspect of the movie, but at least the experience didn’t suck anymore than it did thirteen years ago.

TV

‘Legion’ Heading to the Small Screen on the SyFy Channel?

Leave a comment

[pullquote_right]“I said your f–king baby is gonna burn.” And “You’re all gonna f–king die!”[/pullquote_right] Does anyone remember the movie Legion? You know, the one starring Paul Bettany as an angel protecting a pregnant white-trash girl from other angels seeking to kill her and her baby? If you don’t remember that, then you’ll at least remember the little old lady who walked into a diner spouting off such classy one liners…

So yeah, simple premise of God being so angry with mankind that he/she sends legions of creepy looking angels to exterminate them and their last hope. The only problem with the whole thing is that, they never go into why this baby is their last hope. It’s hinted that it might be the second coming of Jesus, but they never really fully get into it. Then there was a whole storyline involving some prophets that just fell by the wayside because they used the rest of their budget on the fight scene between Archangels Michael and Gabriel.

The movie could have benefited from some sort of sequel, because the end was just too abrupt. Similar to what Dr. Kronner refers to as a ‘Shaft Ending’, in reference to the horrific Shaft movie starring Samuel L. Jackson. The trailer made this movie look great, especially crazy grandma Gladys biting people’s necks and climbing the ceilings, but it wasn’t enough to save a poorly executed second half and loose ends story wise.

I had mentioned a sequel above, and it looks like those who feel the same may get something sort of like that. According to a report from IGN, via Deadline we may be getting some small screen killer angel treatment:

Deadline is reporting that Syfy is currently developing an TV adaptation of the 2010 supernatural thriller Legion, which starred Paul Bettany. 

The movie’s director/co-writer, Scott Stewart, is overseeing the adaptation as an executive producer, and will direct the pilot. The film was about the human race trying to survive an onslaught of angels sent down from above to bring about the apocalypse.

Hmmm… sounds like a sure fire way to tell a story of that potential magnitude the right way. And come to think of it there was nothing groundbreaking in Legion special effects wise that can’t be done on TV. Hell, I’ve seen better effects on Smallville’s last four seasons. If SyFy does in fact pull the trigger on this one, I’m definitely willing to take a shot. Just as long as they don’t name the protagonist ‘Jeep’ like in the movie. Jeep? Seriously? Now that is shameless advertising. And I promise there will be no Jeep links.

Good Ole’ Galdys….She’ll rip your f–king throat out.
TV

Spartacus: Vengeance – Episode 2 “A Place in This World”

Leave a comment

I’ve officially slipped right back into Spartacus mode. Any reluctance or slight misgivings I may have had about Liam McIntyre as Spartacus are now moot. The series is really picking up again and it’s as good as it once was. I thought it was a nice touch in the episode when they tied all three of the seasons together with the inclusion of a certain flashback scene.

Though the entire episode was very good, the character that stood out to me was definitely Oenomaus. We know the history of the former gladiator trainer in the House of Batiatus, that he owed much allegiance to Titus who was the father of Quintus and that he grew up in the same house as young Quintus. In this episode, as Oenomaus searches for meaning and to punish himself, we are treated to a flash back of the youth being purchased by Titus and given a purpose in life. At this point we can begin to understand why Oenomaus is so distraught over the events that occurred with the mass slaughter in the House of Batiatus. He fought for a man who gave him self worth and had to bear witness as Titus’s son tore it all down with his treachery and scheming.

The only good thing about getting to see a character I liked so much was the method of how he did so; by entering into the gladiator fights in “The Pit” which was shown to us in Season One of Spartacus as the now rebel Thracian fought from the bottom of the barrel and into the arena to become champion. The scenes make for some of the most brutal fight scenes in Spartacus yet and we are presented with a cloaked character from past seasons that many may have forgotten about.

Major Episode Spoilers Below!

The smaller parts of the story involve Lucretia snowing over Illythia and Glaber with how crazy she is, while still showing that she is capable of playing the games of deception and treachery as her husband did. The knowing smirk that Lucretia gave in the marketplace and at the end to the now revealed cloaked man I mentioned above show us that  she is a little more aware than her “guests” think. As for Glaber, he is busy trying to gain the allegiance of Seppius who is still a little sour over the death of his cousin Sextus. The two do not come to an agreement in the scene they share in the episode but something will have to come to a head soon. I’m thinking once Glaber has command of Seppius’ men he will quickly eliminate the potential threat he poses.

Crixus and Spartacus continue their search for Naevia, much to the chagrin of yet another Dominus that Crixus deals with personally. They are getting closer to finding Crixus’s wayward beauty, but also drawing more attention to themselves by attacking another villa and engaging in an unavoidable attack with Seppius’ mercenaries. I sure hope they are able to train enough newly freed slaves before they become too obvious a target for Glaber and Seppius should the two pompous asses ever ally with one another.

This can only go two ways…

So I’m going to spoil you majorly with this next part to close the review, so don’t read anymore if you haven’t seen the episode. The cloaked man in the “The Pit” who slipped Lucretia a note in the marketplace and took a weakened Oenomaus captive was none other than Ashur. He is definitely one of my favorite characters from Blood and Sand, the way he was able to manipulate so many people and rise to the top so quickly. Now that Oenomaus is captured and under the heel of Glaber, Illythia and Lucretia it will be interesting to see when Gannicus gets into the fray. It looked like he will show up some time in the season according to the trailers. Will Lucretia share the secret of his wife’s death with Oenomaus and blame it solely on Gannicus? Will she somehow manipulate him into hunting down Spartacus for her? Time will tell. I give the episode 4 out of 5 grizzlies. Rock on Spartacus!

Uncategorized

Dark Horse Review – Knights of the Old Republic: War #1

Leave a comment

First off, yes this review is extremely late, but it’s hard to keep up with all of the Star Wars comics out there nowadays. You’ve got a couple of them following the now red hot MMORPG ‘The Old Republic, one taking place amidst the comic underexposed New Jedi Order/Vong War era and there’s even a few that take place during, a little before and a little after the Original trilogy timeline. It’s a lot to take in I know. But one that I’ve been waiting for and had actually almost forgotten about until I saw it at the comic shop was Knights of the Old Republic: War. This isn’t an Old Republic online game tie-in though, this takes place before and continues the story of wayward Jedi Zayne Carrick that author/comic writer John Jackson Miller started back in 2006.

The series took place before the events of the first Knights of the Old Republic Xbox videogame, chronicling the adventures of the fugitive Jedi “washout” Zayne Carrick who witnessed the deaths of his classmates at the hands of their Masters who were trying to preempt the return of the Sith. As Zayne struggles to avoid his crazy ass Master Lucien and his band of psycho Jedi, he runs afoul of corporate criminals, an essence transferring Sith Lord, Mandalorians and not to mention the two most notorious Sith Lords of the time: Darth Revan and Darth Malak. This is of course before they have fallen to the darkside and before the Mandalorian Wars have truly been unleashed upon the Republic. At this point in time the Mandalorians are simply stockpiling resources from their plundering of the Outer Rim worlds and gauging the Republic’s military prowess in skirmishes here and there. Darth Revan, know at this time simply as ‘The Revanchist” is busy recruiting Jedi eager to step in against the Mandalorian aggression in the Outer Rim, including Jedi Knight Alek who is soon to be jawless Sith Lord Darth Malak.

As KOTOR: War begins we are finally able to get a glimpse of the era directly before the events in the video game, where the Mandalorian invasion of the Republic is in full swing and Zayne Carrick once again finds himself unwittingly drawn into the conflict. I’m hoping the series will show us more of Revan and Malak, possibly leading up to their fall to the darkside and the final battle of the Mandalorian Wars at Malachor V, which by all accounts is pretty epic. The issue itself was pretty decent. Zayne Carrick is just kind of hard not to like. He’s the good hearted hero without being a complete tool about it and still accomplishes to be kind of a badass. The story picks up on the planet Essien where Zayne explains through narrative that he was drafted into the Phaeda militia, Phaeda being the planet where Zayne was born and his family resides. As fate (or the force) would have it, Zayne ends up under the command of a certain man named Morvis… yes it’s the douchebag who made Admiral from the first volume of KOTOR. The issue is big on action, the planet Essien not being very unique in any way as of yet. There is also the introduction of a new Jedi character named Dorjander Kace, who I found to be pretty cool, though by the end nothing is as it seems with him or his little group of Jedi.

The art was decent for this issue, but I’m definitely missing the art of guys like Dustin Weaver and especially Brian Ching who did a good amount of issues from the first volume. But that is not to take anything away from Andrea Mutti because she’s a fine artist. I definitely can’t wait for the next issue to get some explanation for the last page of this current one. Also, I’m all for the introduction of new characters but I’m sure that there are more fans than me out there wondering what happened to Jarael, Gryph, Rholan and Camper. Did Camper stay out in Wild Space with those stupid exo-gorths? Did Rholan ever find out anything about the truth behind the current war as he intended to? Time will tell as KOTOR: War continues, though we may not get answers anytime soon. I give the issue 4 out of 5 grizzlies because it’s off to a promising start. And check out the picture below the rating for a glimpse at the next issue. Ridiculous!

MOVIES

Grizzly Review: One for the Money

Leave a comment

I’m going to be as non-sexist and professional as I can with this review, because I know there is a whole plethora of man-hating Janet Evanovich lovers out there who would forcefully separate me from my testicles if I spoke ill of their precious Stephanie Plum. But I am going to say it…. The movie One for the Money was mediocre. Even not having read the books, aside from a number of female acquaintances constantly talking about it in front of me, the movie was still mediocre. I mean, this flick could have been on the Hallmark channel if they didn’t need to make millions off of the Stephanie Plum name.

Take a look at the Harry Potter movies or the Lord of the Rings movies; (I realize this is apples and oranges people.) Did you have to read those books to enjoy those eleven movies? Hell no. I know numerous people who haven’t read a single one of those books but still enjoy the movies as much as the 40 year old virgin, comic-con geek sitting in front of them in the theater. But as I sat through One for the Money there were numerous parts in the movie where it was obvious that the other 98.2 percent of the audience who were females and book faithfuls roared out in laughter at something that a man who has never read the books would find only chuckle inducing. Even parts that I thought were great where I laughed out loud were not as funny to the female clique’ of Plum-lovers. I think I may have even been shushed at one point.

This is all ignoring the fact that they had a talentless bore named Katherine Heigl playing the lead character of Stephanie Plum who is a down on her luck Jersey girl who finds herself in the bounty hunting business and tracking down her old flame. She also makes plenty of friends along the way, some of which want her eliminated. There really is not much more to the story than that. I would just call it a romantic comedy, because if you’re looking for a smart crime movie, then this definitely is not the one. Also, I’m not sure if Stephanie Plum was supposed to be a Jersey girl, but Katherine Heigl did an atrocious job of delivering anything close to a Jersey accent. It was like she would do one word or a sentence here and there before reverting back to the generic, cookie cutter actress that she is.

It’s worth noting that One for the Money debuted at number 3 in the box office race this weekend with $11.75 million. Though it’s too early to tell, this may be Stephanie Plum’s only one for the money at the theatre. I’ll be generous and give the movie 2 out of 5 grizzlies.

It didn’t put me to sleep and made me laugh out loud here and there. I’d be interested to hear what all of the genuine Stephanie Plum fans thought of this film portrayal of the books. Katherine Heigl- good or bad? Faithful to the book? Let us know in the comments below. Or just rip me for being sexist in the comments, because all feedback is appreciated.